GEORGE NEWS - The new board of directors of the Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRRF), the organisation that runs the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC), has announced a complete overall of the actual race day.
Alewijn Dippenaar, the newly elected chairperson of the board, addressed the media at the launch of the 2018 OCC on Tuesday 12 December.
"The 2018 OCC will for the first time take place on a Sunday, 18 February.
The growth of George and the tough economic times mean that the days of closing down the centre of town on a Saturday are long past.
We are hoping to get much more support from the business community and the broader George community, as many of the businesses are closed on Sundays and will not be affected by the closure of the roads on a Sunday in the CBD," he said.
ACSA, in collaboration with the George airport, has increased its sponsorship from R700 000 to R900 000 and the George Municipality handed over a cheque of R250 000.
Cllr Sean Snyman, a member of the DRRF board, said, "The R250 000 is over and above the logistic support from the municipality."
The start/finish will move to the Garden Route Mall / Eden Lifestyle Meander.
The route for the marathon and half-marathon will revert back to the original course, but in reverse.
The participants will start at the mall and race down Knysna Road into Courtenay Street to the circle at the top of York Street, turn left down York Street and continue to Stanmar Motors in Pacaltsdorp Industrial, and return by the same route.
The new DRRF committee that will run the 2018 OCC has turned the event on its head, bringing in wholesale changes. From left are Pieter Nel, Roslyn Saptoe, Richard Shumi, Cllr Sean Snyman, Fuad Choonara, Niel Els and Alewijn Dippenaar (chairman). Absent: Karools Hauptfleish. Photo: Myron Rabinowitz
The 5km fun walk and the official 10km race will take place in the vicinity of the malls, on a route still to be finalised.
"Two tents accommodating the 1 200 participants will be erected on the level piece of land between the Toyota garage and CTM.
"This will also serve as the parking area for the buses," said Dippenaar.
Ansie Swart, the former OCC event director, was asked for comment on the changed OCC. "There is a time to come and a time to go," she said.
ARTICLE & PHOTO: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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